In an effort to catch up with the cutting-edge robotics industry in Japan, legislators aim to make the U.K. the world's foremost country for robotics research and development. They plan to fund more robotics programs in U.K. schools and universities, and are focused on technology that allows humans to control multiple robots simultaneously—making this a new sector for job opportunities.

Though the Thatcher administration launched an initiative to advance the robotics industry in 1985, none of the more than 2,000 robots working in the U.K. in 2012 were manufactured within the country. Industry insiders believe that the country is better prepared than it was 30 years ago.